IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Watsonville CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Watsonville CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Watsonville CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Watsonville CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Watsonville CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Watsonville CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Watsonville CA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Watsonville CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.